You’re getting close to the end of the second trimester now and may feel unwieldy. Hold on tight because you’ve still got a few months to go!

At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is getting closer to viability, and their little organs are all growing more substantial and more ready to face the world. Meanwhile, your body is preparing for birth and feeding your baby afterward.

You may notice breast changes, including leaking colostrum, and Braxton Hicks contractions that prepare your uterus for labor.

Your Baby’s Development At 24 Weeks

Your baby’s lungs are developing terminal sacs – little pockets that form in clusters and will be instrumental in your baby’s ability to breathe in oxygen and pass it into the bloodstream for use. In the next few weeks, they’ll develop a coating called surfactant, which will prepare them for use in the breathing world.

Special Note: Mothers expected to deliver prematurely may be given corticosteroid injections to speed this process.)

This week, the baby is a bit bigger, with an average length of almost 13 inches and an average weight of about 1.5lb.

His skin is still translucent, but he’s beginning to build up fat stores beneath it and will continue to fill out over the remaining weeks of your pregnancy.

Quick Overview: Baby's Development At 24 Weeks Pregnant:

• Baby’s lungs: Developing surfactant to prepare for breathing.
• Premature birth: Doctors may give corticosteroids to accelerate lung maturity.
• Growth: Now about 13 inches long and weighing around 1.5 pounds.
• Skin: Gaining fat underneath; becoming less transparent.

Mother’s Symptoms At 24 Weeks

As your pregnancy progresses, it’s normal to experience new or more intense symptoms. Your body is making significant adjustments, causing a variety of discomforts ranging from aches and pains to digestive issues, sleep disturbances, and swelling. While many of these are typical, specific symptoms can signal complications, so knowing what’s normal and when to contact your doctor is crucial. Here’s an overview of common pregnancy symptoms to watch for at this stage.

Digestive Complications

Digestion can be a complicated process during pregnancy.

Your uterus is taking up more space, putting pressure on your stomach, and you’re more prone to heartburn and indigestion. Most doctors will give the thumbs-up to some basic antacids like Tums and Rolaids, but avoid any antacids that contain aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate.

Constipation can also be a side effect of pregnancy. Try to stay hydrated and get enough fiber! If you need it, a stool softener is typically considered to be safe during pregnancy, but you shouldn’t take a laxative without talking to your doctor since they may cause contractions.

Some women may have diarrhea, but if it’s persistent (lasting 48 hours) or if it comes with other symptoms (fever, severe fatigue, or passing blood), call your doctor.

Cravings are a normal part of pregnancy. However, not everything you crave is healthy and safe for you and your baby. Check out our guide to common cravings for tips on what healthy choices may satisfy them.

Pain & Cramping

Your body undergoes many physical changes; some can be uncomfortable or painful.

Round ligament pain is common throughout the second and third trimesters. This comes from the extra stress on the round ligaments in your lower abdomen and can feel like a sharp stabbing or a pulling. It may extend into the groin. This type of pain typically fades when you shift into a position that puts less stress and weight on the round ligaments.

Leg cramps or sensations like a desperate urge to move your legs (restless leg syndrome, or RLS) are common in pregnancy. Most typical RLS meds are not considered to be safe during pregnancy, so your doctor may recommend massage, exercise, or warm baths instead. However, RLS symptoms may indicate that you need more iron or folic acid, so if they are persistent, speak to your doctor. There is some evidence of a link to more prolonged labor and/or the need for a C-section, so don’t put off seeking treatment if needed!

You may also have some rib pain now or in the next few weeks as your rib cage expands to make room for the organs your uterus is pushing aside. The best remedy for this is rest, but if it is severe, it could be a sign of a serious complication. Talk to your doctor if you have pain in the upper right area of your abdomen, if the pain is sudden and severe, or if it is accompanied by vision changes, dizziness, bleeding, nausea/vomiting, or headaches.

Back pain is common. A belly band and supportive shoes may help.

Skin & Breast Changes

It’s stretch mark time! These will appear on your abdomen as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing uterus (and baby) but may also appear elsewhere, including on your breasts, hips, and eve legs. Whether you hate or embrace the appearance, stretch marks can be physically uncomfortable. They may itch or create a pulling sensation. A gentle lotion or moisturizer can reduce the discomfort and the appearance (and scarring) of stretch marks.

You may also see spider veins. These may appear on your legs, chest, face, or elsewhere and are visible blood vessels that may appear red, blue, or purple. They’re named for the tendency to appear ‘spidery,’ often radiating out from a central point. Still, they may also be reminiscent of a tree pattern or have no discernable pattern.

You’ve probably already sized up your bras and hopefully picked ones that are supportive and comfortable. (This can also help with back pain.) Now, you may be noticing that in addition to increased size and weight, your breasts are undergoing other changes.

Nipples and areolae may darken and grow larger, and you may leak colostrum. If your skin is sticking to your bra (ouch!) or leaking through your clothes, inserting nursing pads into your bra can prevent stains and pains. We have a guide for the different kinds of nursing pages available.

If you have bleeding or cracked nipples, call your doctor. They may prescribe a medication to heal this and prevent infections.

Dizziness, Shortness Of Breath, Headaches, & More

The extra pressure on your lungs and the increased blood volume can cause various symptoms.

You may find yourself short of breath or fatigued more easily than usual. Some women even feel dizzy and get headaches.

While these symptoms are common, when severe, they can be signs of a serious pregnancy complication. If you have mild symptoms, rest and recuperate, but mention them to your doctor at your next visit. If symptoms are severe, reach out to your doctor right away.

Always call your doctor if any of these symptoms are accompanied by chest pain or vision changes or if you faint or pass out. This is a time to err on the side of caution, so if you’re unsure, make the call.

Sleep Problems

Sleep during pregnancy can be rough. RLS symptoms and heartburn may hit when you lie down. It’s hard to find a position in which the weight of your stomach isn’t uncomfortable. And you’re worried about everything from whether you breathed in paint fumes when you passed the nursery last week while your husband painted (good job delegating!) to whether you can juggle maternity leave and daycare enrollment.

Where possible, treat the underlying causes. Take some time to de-stress, use a warm bath or massage to relax your legs, and take an antacid if you need one.

If you’ve done everything you can with sleep hygiene (sleeping in a comfortable dark room, turning off screens before bed, and keeping a bedtime routine) and insomnia is still bad enough to affect daytime wellness, talk to your doctor.

Swelling & Other Potential Signs Of Pre-Eclampsia

Many pregnancy symptoms can be merely annoying or disruptive when mild but may indicate a serious complication in some circumstances.

Headaches, for instance, are a common symptom of pregnancy, but a severe headache that doesn’t ease with treatment could be a sign of high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.

Swelling is similar. Swollen ankles are a common struggle, especially if your employment has you on your feet most of the day. Still, sudden swelling, swelling that affects the face or chest, or swelling that is more prominent on one side of the body can all be signs of pre-eclampsia.

Consistent weight gain throughout the second and third trimesters is normal (a pound a week is the average for the second trimester but can vary), but sudden or excessive weight gain may be a warning sign.

Any vision changes may be a sign of pre-eclampsia or other serious conditions and should be reported to your doctor immediately.

24 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Quick Recap:

• Pain & Cramping: Rib pain, round ligament pain (sharp/pulling), leg cramps, restless legs, backache, abdominal discomfort (upper-right pain serious).
• Digestive Issues: Heartburn, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea (persistent diarrhea may signal early labor).
• Breathing & Fatigue: Shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, increased lung pressure.
• Skin Changes: Stretch marks (itching/pulling), spider veins (visible veins), breast tenderness, cracked nipples.
• Swelling: Common in legs/ankles; sudden or facial swelling (possible pre-eclampsia).
• Vision Changes: Blurred vision, dark spots (a serious symptom).
• Digestive Issues: Heartburn, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea.
• Sleep Problems: Difficulty sleeping, discomfort, restless legs, insomnia.
• Weight Gain: Normal gradual gain expected; sudden significant increase (possible concern).
• Dizziness & Fatigue: Increased blood volume causing dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath.

When To Contact Your Doctor

Pre-Eclampsia Warning Signs

As described above, symptoms of pre-eclampsia should be reported to your doctor right away. These include severe headaches that don’t go away, severe or sudden swelling or any swelling of the face, and vision changes, such as spots in the vision or blurring. They can also include severe nausea and vomiting and pain just below the rib cage.

Signs Of Pre-Term Labor

If you have symptoms of preterm labor, contact your doctor. They may be able to stop your labor and help you maintain your pregnancy until your baby is ready to meet the outside world.

Contractions that become more intense and frequent are the primary sign of labor. Braxton Hicks contractions will typically stop when you change position. Real labor contractions will not. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) defines “frequent” contractions as 6 in an hour. Your doctor may want you to make contact at a lower threshold than this.

Rupture of the amniotic sac, or your water breaking, is also a sign of labor. It’s not always an early sign, though, and you can be in labor without this happening. If your water does break, you should seek immediate medical care. This could be a gush of fluid or a trickle. It could be tinged with blood or may be entirely clear.

Passing a mucous plug can mean that your cervix is dilating or thinning. It does not always mean you are in labor. However, if you think you’ve lost your mucous plug this early in your pregnancy, you should check with your doctor. The mucous plug can be transparent or whitish, pinkish, or have bloody streaks. You may see small pieces after a physical exam, though, and shouldn’t panic – it can reform.

Other signs of labor can include severe nausea and vomiting, changes in vaginal discharge (especially any blood), lower back aches, and cramps that feel similar to menstrual cramps.

Other Symptoms To Report To Your Doctor:

You should contact your doctor for signs of dehydration, such as being unable to pass urine for several hours, extreme fatigue, dry mouth, and extreme thirst.

You should also report in for any signs of infection, including a change in vaginal discharge, itching or burning, or swelling.

Check for any severe mental health symptoms.

When in doubt, check in with your doctor. Most practices will have a nurse take your question, and depending on the specifics, the nurse will either answer it right away or check with the doctor and get back to you.

What Should Mom Be Doing At 24 Weeks?

Get enough rest and provide your body with the nutrients you and your baby need through healthy foods and multivitamins. Take breaks when your body is tired.

Keep active (unless your doctor has said otherwise), but don’t overdo it. Any repetitive lifting should be kept under 24 lbs after the 24th week of pregnancy.

You should have a glucose screening around this week. At that appointment, your doctor will have you drink a glucose liquid. After an hour, you will have blood drawn for testing to check how your body processes the glucose. This helps screen for gestational diabetes.

Quick Recap Of What Mom Should Be Doing At 24 Weeks Pregnant:

• Rest: Prioritize rest; listen to your body and take breaks when needed.
• Nutrition: Eat healthy foods and take prenatal multivitamins for you and your baby.
• Activity: Stay active unless advised otherwise; avoid repetitive lifting over 24 lbs after week 24.
• Glucose Screening: Expect a glucose screening around now to test for gestational diabetes.

What To Look Forward To

If you’ve scheduled a maternity photoshoot, a baby shower, or other pregnancy events, the time for them is coming up!

These last few months of pregnancy can be hectic. You’ll soon have appointments every two weeks, then every week. In between, you’ll be doing any final preparations for maternity leave, making sure things are ready for baby, packing your hospital bag, and so many other tasks that time will fly by. Try to find some time to relax and take a break for yourself!